British Special Forces To Reduce by 40%

04.03.2013

Plans to cut British Special Forces numbers have been revealed. The Telegraph has reported ⁽¹⁾ that Special Forces may be shrunk by up to 40% due to reduced numbers and restructuring. Only the 22nd Special Air Service (22 SAS) will escape unscathed from the cuts.

Key details of the plans include:

• The Special Boat Service (SBS) is to lose one of its 4 Squadrons, reverting back to levels held before its expansion in 2004.
  
  
• 21 and 23 SAS, the territorial wings of the Special Air Service, are to be removed from under the UKSF umbrella and restructured into the regular Army reserves.
  
  
• The Special Reconnaissance Regiment (SRR) will have its numbers shrunk and will lose it independent role, becoming limited to supporting SAS/SBS operations.
  
  
• The Special Forces Support Group (SFSG) may be cut by up to 66%

The Director of Special Forces, the officer in command of United Kingdom Special Forces (UKSF), is set to present the planned cuts to General Sir David Richards, the Chief of the Defence Staff, in the next few weeks. The planned reduction in Special Forces are part of larger defence spending cuts.

more info / further reading:

• 1. Revealed: nearly half of Special Forces could go in deepest cuts in 50 years
  (the telegraph)
  
  

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